Symptom changes in final ۸ weeks of life; a retrospective analysis of the palliative home visit records

Introduction: Understanding the symptom alterations experienced by advanced cancer patients can assist in the accurate diagnosis of end-of-life. The purpose of this study is to assess the frequency of symptoms observed during home visits for advanced cancer patients in the last ۸ weeks of life.Methods: We extracted the information on homecare visits recorded between February ۱, ۲۰۲۰, to February ۱, ۲۰۲۲, in the Iranian Cancer Control Center (MACSA) database. Cumulatively, ۶,۲۸۸ visits were categorized into four subgroups: < ۱, ۱-<۲, ۲-<۴, ۴-<۸ weeks before death in which the prevalence of symptoms was analyzed.Results: Among the ۳۲ symptoms, ۶ symptoms were decreased and ۱۰ were increased as the visits were getting closer to the time of death (Bonferroni adjusted p-value <۰.۰۱), and ۱۶ were not significantly altered.Conclusion: These results can provide insights into symptoms that should be given greater attention at the end of life.

کلیدواژه ها:

End-of-life care ، symptom dynamics ، imminent death ، palliative care ، homecare